The future of the James Bond franchise is currently shrouded in mystery. The recently released No Time To Die marked a triumphant and tragic end to Daniel Craig‘s journey as 007. There is currently a lot of speculation about the ever-changing Bond odds, but an official announcement has now revealed the future of the James Bond book franchise.

The official Ian Fleming Instagram and Twitter accounts recently posted news of the next James Bond book.

The book’s cover was revealed along with its title: With A Mind to Kill. The novel’s release date was also announced to be May 26, 2022.

This is the first Bond book to be released since 2018. It was titled Forever and a Day, and was written by noted spy writer Anthony Horowitz.

Horowitz returns to write With A Mind to Kill, and the synopsis for the story already sounds extremely unexpected.

The synopsis reads: “It is M’s funeral. One man is missing from the graveside: the traitor who pulled the trigger and who is now in custody, accused of M’s murder – James Bond.”

READ MORE: Next James Bond: Tom Hardy in danger of losing top spot to Venom actor

A larger blurb was written on Ian Fleming’s official website. It reads: “Behind the Iron Curtain, a group of former Smersh agents want to use the British spy in an operation that will change the balance of world power. “Bond is smuggled into the lion’s den – but whose orders is he following, and will he obey them when the moment of truth arrives? In a mission where treachery is all around and one false move means death, Bond must grapple with the darkest questions about himself. But not even he knows what happened to the man he used to be.”

Bond’s new book cover certainly invokes some intrigue, as well.

The image shows a bullet hole in glass – could this be a clue towards the mystery of M’s death? Or simply some engaging imagery for the international spy’s next book?

With a Mind to Kill is the next book in the Bond series, but next year will see the arrival of new double-0 agents.

Author Kim Sherwood is taking on a new trilogy of 007 books looking specifically at the next generation of MI6 agents.

DON’T MISS…
Next James Bond: Tom Hardy in danger of losing top spot to Venom actor [NEWS]
Next Bond: ‘If producers true to Fleming, they’d undo No Time To Die’ [INSIGHT]
James Bond future 007 ‘teased in Casino Royale’ – clone predicted? [NEXT BOND]

A larger blurb was written on Ian Fleming’s official website. It reads: “Behind the Iron Curtain, a group of former Smersh agents want to use the British spy in an operation that will change the balance of world power.

“Bond is smuggled into the lion’s den – but whose orders is he following, and will he obey them when the moment of truth arrives?

“In a mission where treachery is all around and one false move means death, Bond must grapple with the darkest questions about himself. But not even he knows what happened to the man he used to be.”

Fleming’s account wrote last month: “James Bond is missing. Meet the new Double O agents in the Double O trilogy by Kim Sherwood, a new series that will blow the world of Ian Fleming’s James Bond wide open.”

Bond is equally in peril during this new trilogy, however.

The spy has “gone missing”, presumed dead, paving the way for new heroes to enter the fray – not unlike Lashana Lynch in No Time To Die.

But will these new books somehow link to the newly announced With a Mind to Kill?

Sherwood also recently spoke out about joining the Bond author team.

She told The Guardian: “It’s rare that dreams come true, and I am grateful to the Fleming family for this incredible opportunity.

“I feel honoured to be the first novelist to expand the Bond universe through the Double 0-sector, bringing new life to old favourites and fresh characters to the canon.”

With a Mind to Kill hits store shelves on May 26, 2022.

SOURCE